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Ecclesiastes 4:13-16
GOD’S WORD Translation
Ecclesiastes 4:13-16
GOD’S WORD Translation
Rulers and Fickle Citizens
13 A young man who is poor and wise is better than an old, foolish king who won’t take advice any longer.
14 A young man came out of prison to rule as king, even though he had been born in poverty in that same kingdom. 15 I saw all living people moving about under the sun. They sided with the second young man, the king’s successor. 16 There was no end to all those people, everyone whom he led.[a] But those who will come later will not be happy with the successor. Even this is pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind.
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- 4:16 Or “everyone who lived before these [kings].”
Ecclesiastes 4:13-16
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 4:13-16
New International Version
Advancement Is Meaningless
13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. 14 The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. 15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. 16 There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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